Chapter 21

Wei jumped up and hurried at Yunlan's side. He tried to move the chair a little and lift him up, but it was difficult in that position and with his current agitation, so he asked for Luca's help.

Luca made Yunlan's body float and placed him gently on the couch, then Wei lifted his legs to help the blood to his brain.

A couple of seconds and Yunlan opened his eyes.

"What happened? What..."

Wei slowly lowered his legs but urged him to stay down and not to make any sudden movement. He wanted to make sure he'd be alright. He then sat on the edge of the couch.

"How do you feel? Do you remember anything?"

Yunlan's brain was rather confused.

"I think... did we... hold hands?"

Wei blushed.

"I'm sorry. LiLing took over your body and she's a lovesick ghost so..."

Yunlan interrupted him, still trying to make sense of it.

"She's in love with me?"

Wei chuckled now, amused by his words and relieved that he seemed to be fine.

"No, she sees no difference between you and any other. She just has these overwhelming feelings of longing for a love she left behind."

Very slowly, Yunlan lifted himself into a sitting position.

"Wait here, I'll make you an orange-juice," Wei said and got up.

Yunlan followed him with his eyes first then he went to him moving cautiously, checking his vision in case he felt like fainting again, but he didn't.

He moved silently until he reached the kitchen where Wei was busy cutting oranges; Wei had not noticed him approaching, and his presence startled him causing him to cut his finger.

It was but a small cut, yet Yunlan came forward with guilt in his voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

He took his hand to check on the wound, causing a small amount of blood to smear onto his skin. Wei took his hand away.

"It's nothing. Let me clean up, I still haven't finished your glass."

"You should think of your wound first. I can take care of the orange juice," Yunlan volunteered raising his hand in a mock gesture.

Wei's eyes widened as he saw Yunlan's arm going up and Andrew passing right through him.

Wei watched as Andrew happily prepared a glass of orange juice using the oranges that Wei had already cut in half. Yunlan looked in the same direction and froze. Was he really seeing things moving by themselves? Had he hit his head when he fainted?

Andrew attempted to make a second glass but his hands passed through the material objects now. He had run out of mortal energy and he turned to Wei in open disappointment.

Wei rolled his eyes at him then sighed and raised his own hand.

"Yes, please. Make one for me too."

That was an easy task so Wei could leave Andrew alone to deal with it. He grabbed Yunlan's arm and went into the bathroom to disinfect his cut finger and clean Yunlan's hand as well.

He thought of what had happened. What gave Andrew the strength to make that first glass of orange juice? Did he take the energy from Yunlan's body or from his own blood on Yunlan's hand?

Wei worked mindlessly on his injury while pondering on those questions.

He noticed that the bloodstain on Yunlan's skin was dry while he cleaned both their hands and put medicine on his own finger, focusing all his attention on the task at hand so not to think of the man that was now so close to him.

After he cleaned the wound he tried to put a bandaid on his own finger but Yunlan took it out of his grasp.

"Let me help you."

Not waiting for an answer, Yunlan took it from his hands and proceeded to put the bandaid on the injured finger. It was only a small cut, but his actions were gentle and considerate.

Wei observed him while he did that. Since Yunlan's attention was on his finger, he could stare at him openly. They were so close now, and his mind went inevitably back to the kiss.

Why hadn't Yunlan said anything? Was he angry? Upset? At least he didn't hate him now, or he wouldn't be here. That thought was a small comfort, but as he stared at his face he couldn't avoid replaying in his head what had happened.

As his eyes fixed on Yunlan's lips, he recalled the feeling of his own brushing over them. They were so soft, and it had felt so good...

I want to kiss him again, he thought, but he stayed still. In the quiet, comforting privacy of his own home, Wei's gaze traced Yunlan's features and he admitted to himself the truth he had tried so hard to deny.

I like him.

Any of his past relationships had eventually died, killed by his own secret and unwillingness to share it. Yunlan knew all about it though, and Wei couldn't help but wonder if it could ever be possible for him to finally have something real, with Yunlan.

Wei internally scolded himself, if Yunlan wanted the same thing he would have said something already. It was nothing more than wishful thinking and he had to calm down and stop these fantasies. He told himself that, but he knew very well that it was not that simple.

"Voilà, you're good to go," Yunlan said letting go of his hand, then he noticed his stare. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes. Yes, it is." Wei averted his eyes and quickly exited the room, going straight back to the kitchen.

He took the two glasses and handed Yunlan one.

"Drink this. Freshly made." He smiled and drank his.

Yunlan accepted and did the same.

"Are we alright now? No more guilty-crap in your head?"

Wei didn't answer the question.

"It's late. We'll talk again tomorrow." He needed time to ponder on Hong's words, and Yunlan's presence now made him think only of one thing. He just couldn't get that kiss out of his head.

Yunlan hesitated.

"About before, about the... the kiss, I don't..."

He doesn't... that was more than enough, Wei didn't want to hear the rest so he interrupted him.

"You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry but, please, I need some time alone. Can we talk tomorrow?"

For once, Yunlan didn't know what to say. Or maybe his emotions were so conflicting that he didn't know how to say it, his brain and his heart engaged in silent war. He stood still a few seconds then turned to leave.

Wei heard the door closing behind Yunlan and sat down. The ghostly form of LiLing hugged him from behind, but this time he didn't question her behaviour. He knew why she did it.

He had been angry at her for pushing him against Yunlan, but he wasn't anymore. Everything was finally clear, he was aware now of his own feelings, and he knew LiLing could relate to that.

He appreciated the comfort, and for a long while he let her hug him.

Eventually he moved away, restless again; right now he had other things he should worry about. He needed to know what he had caused, it was driving him insane to think that so many people were risking their lives because of him.

The man he had seen at the hospital would probably wake up, sooner or later, but what about the others?

No amount of reassurance could take the guilt away from him. It was his fault if the Shadows had realised that they could use human people's energy, and who knew how many were out there ready to do the same.

It was still something new to them and their actions had been limited, but what if they got addicted to it? What if they learned to do more and started committing crimes using people's bodies?

He had to put a stop to it before things got even worse than they were. As silly as it was, Wei wanted to do something, maybe he could communicate with them as he did with his ghosts, maybe he would be able to explain that what they were doing was wrong.

The door closed behind him before he could form an actual plan. To be honest, he didn't have one, he was simply too restless to stay home doing nothing. He had stayed in there long enough, he needed to get out.

Upon reaching the elevator he froze. The doors were already opening and Yunlan was there, a backpack hanging from his shoulder and a baffled expression on his face, matching Wei's perfectly.

Wei was the first to speak.

"What are you doing here?"

"A mistake, probably."

After muttering those three words, Yunlan sighed.

"Will you join me in this investigation? You seem to know more about it than I do."

"You mean, you believe me now?"

"You might have saved three people already, it doesn't really matter what I believe. Whatever you do, it works."

Not the best answer maybe, but Yunlan hated lies. They were useful sometimes, when dealing with criminals or politicians, but in any other circumstance, he'd rather say the truth.

"Yes," Wei said. He wanted to help and he needed to do something, so he accepted without a moment's thought.

He also wanted to be near Yunlan, despite all his previous propositions he couldn't detach himself anymore.

Maybe Yunlan didn't fully believe him, but Wei couldn't blame him for his scepticism. Nobody had ever believed him, but while the others had labelled him as nuts and avoided him or mocked him, Yunlan was still here.

"I don't know if I can but I'd like to help you."